Toy vehicle kit having locking pin through engine, chassis and pan

ABSTRACT

A miniature toy vehicle construction in kit form wherein the vehicle parts can readily be assembled and disassembled by a young child. The parts are designed to structurally interlock with each other when assembled in proper order so that each part as it is added serves to lock earlier assembled parts together until a final master part is inserted and turned to a locked position locking all of the parts securely together.

United States ?atent Warnsley et a1. Dec. 9, 1.975

[5 TOY VEHICLE KIT HAVING LOCKING PIN 2,916,851 12/1959 Groschen 45/221 THRQUGH E G CHASSIS AND PAN 3,528,193 9/1970 Yamakawa ..46/17 [75] I t V R W l W t 3,736,696 6/1973 Laird et a1 ..46/22 X v s: n en or 321; 22: g gg ij of FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Minn. 760,236 10/1956 United Kingdom... 1. 46/17 615,304 7/1935 Germany 46/26 1 Asslgneel $1 Corporation, Mmneapohs, 325,235 2/1930 United Kingdom 85/5 P run.

1 1 Filedi 1972 Primary Examiner-F. Barry Shay [21] APPL NO; 303,661 Attorney, Agent, or FirmDouglaS L. Carlsen [44] Published under the Trial Voluntary Protest Program on January 28, 1975 as document no. [57] ABSTRACT B 308,661.

A miniature toy vehicle construction in kit form [52] US. Cl 46/17; 46/223 h r in the vehicle parts can readily be assembled [51] Int. Cl. A6311 17/00 n ssem l d by a young child. The parts are de- [58] Field of Search 46/17, 22, 16, 23, 26, signed to structurally interlock with each other when 46/221, 223, 222, 1 A, 2, 161 173, 25; assembled in proper order so that each part as it is 85/5 added serves to lock earlier assembled parts together until a final master part is inserted and turned to a [56] R f r Cit d locked position locking all of the parts securely to- UNITED STATES PATENTS gether- 2,587,142 2/1952 Gray et al ..46/17 2,749,660 6/1956 Zimentstark 46/223 x 1 Clam" 4 Drawmg figures 2/ a s j w 1 ll \;g

Sheet 1 of2 3,924,349

US. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 .FJEZZ US. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 Sheet20f2 3,924,349

TOY VEHIOLE Kl'l HAVING LOCO PIN THROUGH ENGINE, CSSESAND PAN BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Generally, miniature vehicles sold in kit form for as sembly by the user are not designed for subsequent disassembly without breakage. Others of such kits are intentionally designed with the components loosely connected so as to fall apart upon the vehicle colliding with 1 another vehicle or fixed object so that the child may reassemble the vehicle and effect further collisions.

Still other miniature vehicle constructions provide for various interlocking parts to enable rapid but permanent factory assembly with the final step being to add a permanent rivet, nut and bolt or the like.

The present invention is not concerned with these constructions but rather pertains to a miniature vehicle kit wherein the component parts of the vehicle can be assembled by a child into a well constructed durable vehicle and by the same manner disassembled without or with minimal use of tools.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTlON The primary object of the present invention is to pro vide a toy vehicle construction kit with a plurality of component parts that can be assembled in relatively interlocking relation and having a master locking pin which locks the entire assembly together but which can be simply and quickly removed without destruction to permit disassembly of the vehicle.

With this and other objects in view the invention broadly comprises a chassis, front and rear axle assemblies, engine, body, pan and locking pin components adapted to be assembled in a successively interlocking order with the locking pin insertable through a passageway extending through the engine, chassis and pan and having gibs at one end so that the pin may be rotated to an irremovable position to securely look all of the components in, assembled condition, but which pin may be reversely rotated for removal to permit disassembly of the components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation showing the vehicle parts in exploded pre-assembly position with the chassis, wheel axles and pan being shown in section.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the toy vehicle in arsembled condition.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the vehicle.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section through the vehicle taken on line 44 of FIG.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly to the drawings reference numerals will be used to denote like parts or structural features in the different views. The assembled vehicle as shown in FIGS. 2 through 4 is denoted generally by the number 9. It is made up of various parts or components shown in separated condition in FIG. 1. The basic part is the chassis which has a generally rectangular bed ll with laterally opposing side walls 12 provided with transversely aligned downwardly opening recesses l3 near the forward ends thereof and upwardly opening recesses 14 near the 2 rearward ends thereof. A front wall 15 on the chassis 10 is provided with a transversely extending slot 16. Openings 17, 18 and 19 are provided in longitudinally spaced relation from front to rear of bed 11 and ex- 5 tending crosswise between the walls 12. Another transverse slot 20 is provided in the bed 11 near the rear end thereof and an aperture 21 in the bed is located longitudinally intermediate the openings 17 and 18. Aperture 21 has a keyhole configuration with diametrically opposing grooves opening toward the center of the aperture.

The numeral 24 denotes generally a front axle assem bly which consists of an axle 25 having a pair of wheels 26 mounted on the ends thereof.

Numeral 2'7 denotes generally a rear axle assembly which consists of an axle 28 having a pair of wheels 29 mounted on the ends thereof.

The numeral 30 denotes generally the vehicle engine and includes a flat base 31 which has a tongue 32 which angles downwardly and forwardly therefrom and a tongue 33 projecting rearwardly therefrom. The engine has a passageway 34 extending vertically through the center thereof. This is a circular passageway with diametrically opposing grooves extending therealong preferably at the lateral sides of the passageway so as to have the same cross sectional configuration as aperture 2.1. The air filter 35 on the top of the engine is provided with a counterbore 36 at the upper end of passageway 44. The engine 30 may be formed of several interlocking parts but is here shown as a unitary structure.

The numeral 40 denotes generally the body or passenger compartment of the vehicle. This is provided with a hook tab 41 extending rearwardly from the back end thereof and a pair of transversely spaced locking tabs 42 extending downwardly from the front portion thereof. Tabs 42 are spaced apart the same distance as slots 18 in the chassis it) and are provided with inwardly projecting detents thereon.

The numeral denotes generally a pan adapted to fit firmly against the underside of chassis It). It is preferably formed of sheet metal material and has a generally rectangular configuration with upstanding side walls 5ll and a flange 52 projecting rearwardly from the rear wall thereof. An aperture 54 is provided in the front portion of the pan. Aperture 54 has the same size and shape as aperture 21 for alignment therewith and the pan has portions 55 which are distended downwardly adjacent to the aperture fore and aft of the apertures with the distended portions being provided with notches 56 extending radially from the apertures.

The numeral 60 denotes generally a locking pin having a flat head bl at one end and gibs 62 projecting in diametrically opposite directions from the other end.

The assembly of the toy vehicle will now be described. With chassis l0 and wheel and axle assembly 24 in the relative positions shown in FIG. l, the axle 25 is seated in the chassis recesses 13. Engine 30 is then lowered downwardly upon chassis bed 111 with the tongue 32 being inserted forwardly through opening 17 and under the axle 25 and into slot 16 to lock the assembly 24 to the chassis 10. There is sufficient play to permit the tongue 33 to pass downwardly into the opening 18 in the chassis bed 11. The axle 28 of the rear wheel and axle assembly is then lowered into the upwardly opening recesses 14 in the chassis so that said assembly is seated therein.

The body 40 is then lowered onto the chassis with the hook tab 41 being inserted into the slot 20 on the chassis to lock the rear ends of the body and chassis together. As the body 40 is then tilted forwardly the locking tabs 42 thereon are moved through the opening 18 in the chassis bed 11. Pan 50 is then slid rearwardly into position against the underside of chassis with flange 52 moving over the axle 28. The pan walls 51 move between the detents on tabs 42 and frictionally lock said tabs against upward removal from the opening 18.

In this condition the various components 10, 24, 30, 27, 50 and 40 are frictionally held together in a loosely interlocked condition such that they would probably fall apart if the vehicle were played with in normal fashion. The locking pin 60 is accordingly inserted to positively secure the parts together. It is inserted downwardly through the passageway 34 extending vertically through the engine until the flat head 61 comes to rest in the counterbore 36. The pin is inserted after onefourth turn from the position shown in FIG. 1 so that the gibs 62 will pass through the diametrically opposing grooves at the sides of passageway 34 and earlier mentioned herein. Accordingly, when the pin has been fully inserted the gibs 62 will have passed downwardly through the aperture 21 in the chassis 10 and aperture 54 in the pan 50. As the gibs 62 are then grasped and turned the pin will be rotated 90 or one-fourth turn with the gibs riding up the distended portions 55 which act as ramps until the upper edges of the gibs become firmly seated in the notches 56. The pin is accordingly locked against rotation until sufficient turning pressure is applied to the gibs to force pan portions 55 slightly inward so that the gibs may turn out of notches 56.

When pin 60 has been turned to a release position with gibs 62 aligned with the grooves in engine 50, it may be removed and the components disassembled in reverse order of assembly.

As hereinbefore mentioned a significant feature of the present invention is to present a construction wherein component parts of a miniature toy vehicle may be assembled in relatively interlocking relation with said parts as they are incorporated in the structure providing a positive locking connection between previously assembled parts. With this in mind it will be understood that in the structural assembly just described the locking of seven major components used in this par- 4 ticular kit takes place as follows: (1) The engine 30 locks front wheel assembly 24 in chassis 10; (2) Body 40 locks rear wheel assembly 27 in chassis 10; (3) Pan 50 locks body 40 to the chassis 10; (4) Pin locks engine 30 and pan 50 to the chassis 10.

It is important that none of the components are bent or deformed in any way during assembly or permanently connected as by riveting or nut and bolt assembly so that a child may readily disassemble and reassemble the toy.

The components may, of course, take various shapes and forms to simulate different types of toy vehicles. It will also be understood that the kit may be marketed with one each of a standardized chassis 10, front and rear wheel assemblies 24 and 27, pan 50 and locking pin 60 and yet with a great variety of styles of engines 30 and bodies 40 so that various types of vehicles may be assembled from one kit using a majority of common basic parts.

Having now therefore fully illustrated and described the invention, what is claimed to be new and desired to be protected by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a toy vehicle kit comprising various components adapted to be selectively assembled and disassembled,

a. a chassis having transversely extending front and rear recesses for receiving front and rear axles, one of said recesses opening upwardly and one opening downwardly with respect to said chassis,

b. front and rear wheel carrying axles adapted to be seated in said recesses,

c. an engine adapted to be seated on the chassis upwardly thereof and including means to lock the front axle in said front recess,

d. a body adapted to be seated on the chassis upwardly thereof adjacent said engine and including means to lock the rear axle in said rear recess,

e. a pan adapted to extend along the underside of the chassis and lock the body to the chassis, and

f. means coacting with said pan for locking the engine and pan to the chassis including a pin for extending through the engine, chassis, and pan and being rotatable between locking and unlocking positions. 

1. In a toy vehicle kit comprising various components adapted to be selectively assembled and disassembled, a. a chassis having transversely extending front and rear recesses for receiving front and rear axles, one of said recesses opening upwardly and one opening downwardly with respect to said chassis, b. front and rear wheel carrying axles adapted to be seated in said recesses, c. an engine adapted to be seated on the chassis upwardly thereof and including means to lock the front axle in said front recess, d. a body adapted to be seated on the chassis upwardly thereof adjacent said engine and including means to lock the rear axle in said rear recess, e. a pan adapted to extend along the underside of the chassis and lock the body to the chassis, and f. means coacting with said pan for locking the engine and pan to the chassis including a pin for extending through the engine, Chassis, and pan and being rotatable between locking and unlocking positions. 